Ring rail lifting apparatus for spinning machinery

ABSTRACT

A ring rail lifting apparatus for spinning machinery, including a pulse generating device for generating pulses according to the rotation speed of the frame motor of a spinning machine without receiving power from the frame, and a pulse motor operated by the pulses supplied from said pulse generating device. The driving mechanism operated by said pulse motor is arranged so as to give vertical motion to the ring rail, and this motion is controlled by an interlocking device interlocked with the ring rail.

United States Patent 1 Yasutomi et al.

[ Oct. 30, 1973 RING RAIL LIFTING APPARATUS FOR SPINNING MACHINERY [75] Inventors: Shunichi Yasutomi, Kobe; Shigeaki Takahashi, Amagasaki; Katsumasa Nerio, ltami, all of Japan [73] Assignee: Nihon Spindle Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha, Hyogo-ken, Japan [22] Filed: Dec. 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 210,821

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 30, 1970 Japan 45/129354 52 us. Cl 57/98, 57/95, 57/99, 242/26.l

511 Int. Cl D0lh 1/24, DOlh l/26, DOlh H36 581 Field of Search 57/93, 95,98, 99, 1 57/54; 242/261-2645 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,604,643 9/1971 Kimura'et al. 57/99 X Wolf 57/99 X Tonnies 57/99 X Primary ExaminerJohn Petrakes Attorney-Alex Friedman et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A ring rail lifting apparatus for spinning machinery, including a pulse generating device for generating pulses according to the rotation speed of the frame motor of a spinning machine without receiving power from the frame, and a pulse motor operated by the pulses supplied from said pulse generating device. The driving mechanism operated by said pulse motor is arranged so as to give vertical motion to the ring rail, and this motion is controlled by an interlocking device interlocked with the ring rail.

8 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PAIENTED 0B1 30 1973 SHEEI 10F 7 PAIENIEUUN 30 ms 3 2 4 SHEET 3 0f I PATENTEU HUT 30 I973 3. 768 244 sum 5 or 7 PAIENIEnnmaoms 3,768,244

SHEET 7 OF 7 time 0 a'a'bb displacement of the ring rail RING RAIL urrmc APPARATUS ron SPINNING MACHINERY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for use in spinning machinery such as spinning frames, twisting machines, and the like, in which, for the purpose of forming the spun thread on the bobbin into a shape suitable for easy rewinding in the next process, automatic vertical motion is given to the ring rail which supports the ring.

In the conventional spinning or twisting machine, the ring rail is vertically displaced over a predetermined amplitude by a lifting lever and a heart-shaped cam which is rotated by a tin roller mounted on the machine frame. A shaper gear is rotated sequentially at each traverse of the ring rail to wind up a chain linked with the ring rail, to apply a traverse motion to the ring rail. By means of this traverse motion the winding position on the bobbin is raised in a stepless manner to form the thread into a cop or cone shape.

According to the prior art, complicated procedures were required to change the shape of the cop, which shape may differ depending on the type of yarn and the ring diameter. In addition, any such change requires sophisticated mechanical redesign of the device as a whole. Especially in the systems incorporating said lifting lever and heart cam, the device must be constructed in a large size, and a large space is required for the installation thereof. It is inevitable that the over-all mechanical setup becomes complicated. Further, the quick return action of the device is not smooth or is often intermittent each time the vertical motion is switched in the reciprocating traverse operation of the heart cam mechanism. This results in uneven winding and the irregular running of the thread, forming the cop into an undesirable shape. This result is unavoidable as abrasion of the heart cam is increased. As a result, a specific portion of the cop becomes excessively thick, and so-called tangle-up occurs in the winding process due to thread entanglement. This limits the speed of operation in the next process step. For these reasons, the prior art mechanisms are inconvenient, impractical and uneconomical, requiring complicated operation and maintenance procedures and resulting in high costs of installation and operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a ring rail lifting apparatus for spinning machinery, including a pulse generating device for generating pulses according to the rotation speed of a frame motor of a spinning machine without receiving power from the frame and a pulse motor operated by the pulses supplied from said pulse generating device. The driving mechanism operated by said pulse motor is arranged so as to give vertical motion to the ring rail and this motion is controlled by a feedback device interlocked with the ring rail.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to eliminate the foregoing disadvantages of the prior art by providing a simple arrangement for producing easy and accurate vertical motion of the ring rail.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus having simplified mechanism and maintenance procedures for the control of the vertical or building motion of the ring rail, so that the cop shape is easily changed for producing cops of shapes suitable for any desired application, such as fine spinning, twisting or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of reversing the vertical motion of the ring rail at a high speed in the traverse motion and permitting smooth and accurate quick return action and formation of a desirable thread shape of the cop.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive device in which the joggling operation, building motion and other cop-forming processes are automatically carried out, so that productivity is markedly increased and full automatic operation can be realized.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the in vention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially schematic side elevational view of the ring raising apparatus according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the transmission device of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional side elevational view of the driving mechanism of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional side elevational view of the detecting mechanism of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines I--I of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of a pulse transmitting operation circuit according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of the pulse transmitting circuit according to the invention;

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of the stopping circuit for stopping the fully packed cop; and

FIG. 10 is a graphical diagram showing the relationship between the ring rail displacement and time.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the ring rail raising apparatus depicted includes a device 1 for generating timing pulses in response to .the number of revolutions of a front roller on the machine frame. A pulse motor 2 operated by the pulses transmitted from said pulse generating device operates a driving mechanism 4 to lift or lower a ring rail 3. A detecting mechanism 5 is rotated in response to the displacement of said ring rail for controlling the vertical motion of said ring rail. Said detecting mechanism is provided with M,, M M and M for detecting the position of said ring rail during such vertical motion. A memory device C is provided for measuring andstoring a number of pulses during the upward displacement of said ring rail, said memory device being provided with means for automatically reversing driving mechanism 4 from the upward ring rail driving direction to the downward ring rail driving direction when a predetermined number of said pulses is counted during said upward displacement.

In order to interlock the above mechanism with a spinning machine, the pulse generating device 1 which controls the vertical motion of ring rail 3 is provided with a rotating disk 6 as more particularly shown in FIG. 2. Said rotating disk serves as a transmitter and is connected to a front roller 61 of the spinning machine. Said transmitting disc is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced transparent portions, preferably in the form of through holes, and is located between a light source 7 and a light-receiving pickup 8. Said pickup generates one electrical pulse for each light pulse transmitted through disc 6 from light source 7 and, includes an amplifier for amplifying said pulse. Pulse motor 2 is rotated in a forward or reverse direction in response to the number of pulses so transmitted. A multi-pulse generating device 9 is associated with pulse generating device 1 for generating a high speed pulse without regard to the rate of rotation of the main spinning machine.

The forward and reverse rotation of pulse motor 2 is applied to the vertical motion of ring rail 3. Pulse motor 2 is provided, in its input circuit, with two switching holding devices K, and K having contacts F,, and F and F and F respectively for the selective rotation of said pulse motor in the forward or reverse direction. Said input circuit is also provided with relay contacts RY of switching relay RY, (FIG. 8) and relay contacts RY of switching relay RY (FIG. 9). Said relay contacts control the selective connection of multi-pulse generating device 9 to pulse motor 2. Pickup 8 is connected directly to one of the contacts F,, of holding device K, and is further connected to a frequency converter 10, which in this embodiment is adapted to generate one pulse for each two input pulses applied thereto. Said frequency converter is connected to the contact F of holding device K,. Finally, pickup 8 is connected to a counter C,, which serves as a memory device operated by a detecting mechanism 5.

As more particularly shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the arrangement according to the invention, includes a fluid pressure servo-mechanism 4 located intermediate pulse motor 2 and ring rail 3 for driving said ring rail in the vertical displacement thereof. More'particularly, the driving mechanism consists of a gear wheel 13 engaged with a pinion 11 mounted on rotating shaft 12 of pulse motor 2. A valve shaft 14 of servo coupler 16 is coupled to gear 13. A coupler 17 is screwed to the other valve shaft of said servo valve. A rotary shaft 18 is coupled with coupler 17. A rotary shaft 20, forming a part of transmitting mechanism 21 transmits the vertical motion of the ring rail 3, in a manner to be described below, through an accelerating or decelerating mechanism 19 consisting of a group of gears. Servo valve 16 is connected through hydraulic circuits 32 and 32' to a hydraulic cylinder 22 which serves as a driving source for lifting ring rail 3. A pipe 35 (FIGS. 3 and 4) couples hydraulic cylinder 22 to a pump 34 in an oil tank 33 of a hydraulic operational system, through servo valve 16, and hydraulic circuits 32 and 32.

Transmitting mechanism 21 is provided with a belt having a poker rod 23 connected thereto by means of a connecting bar 24. Belt 25 and connecting bar 24 may be directly connected with each other, or indirectly connected to a movable media. Poker rod 23 is connected with ring rail 3 as will be more completely described below. Belt 25 is supported on pulleys 26 and 27, pulley 26 being mounted on rotary shaft 20 for transmitting the vertical motion of ring rail 3 to said shaft. The feedback action is produced by a drum 30 mounted on a rotary shaft 29 and coupled to a lever 28. Lever 28 engages poker rod 23 for the displacement thereof, while drum 30 is wound with a rope 31, which may take the form of a chain, tape or wire, said rope being connected to the piston of hydraulic cylinder 22.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the rotary displacement of rotary shaft 20 is in response to the displacement of belt 25. As pulse motor 2 is rotated, valve shaft 15 is screwed into the coupler 17 to move the valve shaft 14 to the right as viewed in FIG. 4. When this occurs, pressure oil delivered through servo valve 16 from oil tank 33 and pump 34 is connected through operational circuit 32, 32' of the hydraulic cylinder 22 to displace the piston of said hydraulic cylinder. The displacement of said piston draws rope 31 so as to actuate poker rod 23, which in turn lifts ring rail 3. As ring rail 3 is lifted, shaft 18 is rotated through accelerating or decelerating mechanism 19 and transmitting mechanism 21 to displace valve shaft 14 to the left as viewed in FIG. 4, so as to stop the supply of pressure oil to hydraulic operational circuit 32, 32. The arrangement is again actuated in response to the number of revolutions of pulse motor 2, i.e., the number of pulses, which number is controlled by the distance over which ring rail 3 was vertically displaced.

Detecting mechanism 5, more particularly shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, is so constructed that it moves in accordance with the vertical motion of ring rail 3. Said detecting mechanism is provided with contacts M,, M M and M for switching the pulse motor at each stage of the cop winding motion, thereby permitting the successive rise of ring rail 3 accompanied with the formation of the cop bottom. A pulley 38 is engaged by belt 25 of transmission mechanism 21 and is mounted on a main shaft 40 of detecting mechanism 5. A disc 39 is mounted on said main shaft and is resiliently provided with rotary arms 41 and 42 which serve as movable contacts. Fixed contact points M, and M are circumferentially spaced in the path of moving arms 41 and 42. The circumferential spacing between fixed contact points M, and M corresponds to the distance of the traverse of ring rail 3. This distance is represented by the distance bb-bb, and the distance b-bb in FIG. 10. Arm 41 revolves with the rising of ring rail 3 and comes into contact with contact M, and remains there. During this time, an electrical signal is generated while disc 39 is revolved a distance corresponding to the base displacement amount between adjacent chases, which corresponds to the distance bb'b in FIG. 10, as will be more particularly described below.

Other arm 42 is used for detecting joggling formation at the start of winding. Contact M and a stop rod 43 are provided at both sides of arm 42. The switching at the upper point of displacement of ring rail 3 in case of joggling is controlled by the contact M while the switching at the lower-mostpoint of said ring rail displacement is controlled by the contact M Further, in order to locate the end of the thread on the fully wound package at the end edge below the bobbin or on a warp sleeve, switching contact M is supported through a rod 52 by an elastic spring 44 weaker than the elastic support coupling disc 39 to arm 41. A fixed contact M is positioned in the path of rod 52 which determines the position of the start of winding and end of winding, said positions being preferably being spaced from each other. In the embodiment of the drawings, the motion of belt 25 is transmitted to a pulley 38 mounted on main shaft 40. However, a sprocket wheel, gear wheel or link mechanism may be substituted for detecting the vertical motion of ring rail 3.

Referring now to FIG. 2, contact M, is connected to a relay RY,, having a normally open switch RY,,, connected to counter C,. Contact M, is further connected to a relay RY through the normallyopened contacts of a relay YF,. Contact M is connected to a relay RY and a relay RY through the normally opened contacts RY of relay RY,. Contact M is connected to a counter C through the normally opened contacts RY, of relay RY,, counter C being provided to count the number of jogglings. Further, contact M is connected through normally closed contacts RY of relay RY, to relay 'RY,,,. Finally, contact M, is connected through normally opened contacts RY of relay RY, to relay RY Referring now to FIG. 7, the pulse generating operational circuit depicted consists of a starting push button PB, which, when closed, actuates a main relay MS, which closes contact MS, (FIG. 2) to actuate multipulse generator 9 and-pickup 8. Relay MS simultaneously closes a self-holding contact MS,, (FIG. 7) so as to maintain itself in the actuated state. The circuit further includes normally closed contacts YF, and RLM which are opened by the action of relays YF, and RLM respectively, as will be explained further in connection with FIG. 9. Finally, the circuit includes a releasing push button FB for releasing the self-holding relay contact MS,,.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the operational circuit for controlling the vertical motion of ring rail 3 depicted therein includes a relay RY, for selectively switching the connection between pulse motor 2 to either multipulse generator 9 or pulse generator l. A relay. RY is provided for switching on and off the pulse motor circuit. Relays F,, and F and relays F and F are provided for respectively switching switching holding devices K, and K (FIG. 2). A relay RY is provided for actuation in response in the closing of normally opened contacts C in response to the action of counter C (FIG. 2), which counter serves to count the number of joggling. The actuation of relay RY opens normally closed contacts RY which, when open, releases relay RY, and the operating circuits for said switches.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the stopping operational circuit according to the invention is depicted, said circuit performing the functions of transferring the fully packed cop to idle'rotation, rapidly dropping the ring rail, winding the end of the thread at a suitable position on the bobbin, and stopping the ring rail at a preferred position. Said circuit includes a relay YF, actuated by the closure of switch ACF indicative of a fully packed cop. A timer TM, is provded for opening the motor circuit after a predetermined time delay. A timer TM is provided for determining the time during which the ring rail rapidly falls. Timer TM actuates a relay RY, through contacts TM to connect pulse motor 2 to multi-pulse generator 9 for rapidly rotating said pulse motor. A timer TM,, is provided for determining the time for positioning ring rail 3 to a position suitable for the doffing operation and for actuating switch relay RY, for connecting multi-pulse generator 9 with pulse motor 2. The latter actuation is achieved through contacts TM, of timer TM which actuates relay YF to close normally opened relay contacts (F (FIG. 8). Finally, the circuit of FIG. 9 includes a relay RLM actu' ated by the closure of switch LSM. This switch, as depicted in FIG. 1, is closed when the ring rail is at the position suitable for the doffing operation to open the pulse generating operational circuit of FIG. 7, by means of contacts RLM of relay RLM.

Referring now to FIG. 4, servo coupler 16 includes plunger 36. The hydraulic system includes oil return piping 37 coupling said servo coupler to oil reservoir 33. The pressure oil path is provided with a check valve 53, a motor 54 being provided for driving pump 34. Coupler 17 is mounted on a fixing stand 60 and receives the threaded portion 59 of shaft 15.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, arms 41 and 42 are supported on disc 39 by means of a rod 45 and a spring 46. An arm 47 supports contact M, and is mounted by means of fixing screw 48 in a guide groove 49. Springs 50 are provided for engaging arms 41 and 42 against disc 39. Main shaft 40 rides in bearings 51.

Referring to FIG. 3, screw is provided for adjusting the tension on rope 31. As shown in FIG. 1, a supporting plate 56 is provided through which shaft 29 carrying the guide roller is journalled.

Referring again to FIG. 8, relay RY, is connected in series with normally opened contacts MS of relay MS, and normally closed contacts RY and YF,,. Connected in parallel with the above-mentioned relay contacts are the normally opened contacts YF Relay RY, is connected in series with the parallel connection between normally opened contacts RY, and RY, of relays RY and RY, respectively. Contacts C,, of counter C, are connected to switch F,,. Normally opened switches TM,, (FIG. 8) and TM, (FIG. 9) are closed by timer TM, (FIG. 9). Timer TM closes contacts TM while timer TM closes contacts TM and TM (FIG. 9). Normally closed contacts YF are connected with timer TM (FIG. 9), while normally opened contacts YF are connected to relay RY, (FIG. 8).'Normally opened contacts YF of relay YF are connected intermediate switch LSM and relay RLM in FIG. 9. A pilot lamp'PL is connected in series with switch ACF in FIG. 9.

The displacement of ring rail 3 is explained more particularly with reference to FIG. 10. This displacement can be divided into several distinct intervals. The first is a joggling winding motion wherein the end of a thread is wound quickly several times about the bobbin for avoiding separation of the thread from the bobbin when tension is applied thereto. The building or copforming motion constitutes the next interval. During this motion, the vertical displacement of the ring rail is repeated to form a cop or any other desired shape, the winding position being raised step-by-step, the ring rail being quickly lowered when the winding process is terminated. In this manner, a complete cop is-formed.

In order to keep the thread linked for the restart operation, after a full bobbin is completed, the thread is wound two to four times about the spindle below the bobbin or wound on the head portion of the warp. The full bobbin can then be removed and an empty bobbin substituted therefor. After this thread-retaining motion, the ring rail is repositioned for further processing. In the embodiment depicted in the drawings, this further displacement consists of four movements for lifting the ring rail to a suitable position and, stopping said ring rail at that position in order to insert a kicker into the lower end of the bobbin for kicking up the fully wound bobbin. In a series of these operations, the ring rail is vertically reciprocated to perform its function.

As shown in FIG. 10, at the beginning of the operation, the ring rail 3 is in a stop position indicated by S (the closed position of the switch LSM in FIG. 1) suitable for the doffmg operation. At this position, the contact ACF of a full-cop counter is released and the holding devices K, and K are positioned to close the F,, and F contacts. When so arranged, the joggling operation is performed when the push-button PB, is closed to actuate main relay MS. The actuation of main relay MS closes contacts MS, (FIG. 2) to actuate multipulse generator 9. At the same time, contacts MS, of said main relay are closed to actuate relay RY, (FIG. 8) to position the movable contact of switching contact RY,,, in the upper or I position to couple multi-pulse generator 9 to pulse motor 2. This connection turns the pulse motor at a high speed to displace ring rail 3 in the upward direction. Further, contacts RY,,, connected to contact M of detecting device are closed, as are contacts RY,, connected to contact M When ring rail 3 is raised, joggling control arm 42 is rotated and engages contact M at the uppermost point of displacement a (FIG. 10). This engagement actuates relays RY, and RY (FIG. 2). The actuation of relay RY closes normally opened relay contacts RY,,, to operate relay RY,, (FIG. 8) to start the operation of the machine. At the same time, relay RY, (FIG. 2) is actuated, to close normally opened contacts RY,, (FIG. 8) to switch holding devices K, and K so that the movable contact thereof engages contacts F,, and F,,, so that pulse motor 2 is reversed and ring rail 3 is lowered.

When ring rail 3 reaches the lowermost position a of the joggling cycle, the other control arm 41 engages contact M to close relay RY, to switch holding devices K, and K to the F, and F positions respectively. The pulse motor is thus reversed again, and ring rail 3 is lifted. The number of contacts between arm 41 and contact M is stored in counter C When the number of repetitive joggling cycles reaches a predetermined number, said counter C closes contact C to actuate relay RY (FIG. 8). This causes normally closed contacts RY,, to open to release relay RY,. As a consequence, the movable contact of switching contact RY,, is repositioned to the lower or 1] side and the circuit of multi-pulse generator 9 is interrupted. An attenuated pulse is supplied to the pulse motor 2 from pulse generator 1 to converter 10, and ring rail 3 starts rising at a slow speed. In other words, the joggling winding process is carried on for a number of cycles equal to the number counted on counter C and the switch holding devices K, and K are finally positioned with the movable contacts engaging the F, and and F contacts when the joggling winding process is completed.

The slow rise of the ring rail in response to the pulses transmitted through converter 10 from pulse generator 1 starts the building motion of the cop. Referring again to FIG. 10, it is noted that ring rail 3 starts at the position S suitable for the doffing operation at the beginning ofthe cycle, and in order to prevent end breakage of the thread, said ring rail is raised to the upper position of point a at the start of operation, and, when the ring rail is lowered, the motor is actuated.

During said building motion, ring rail 3 is lifted at a slow speed by pulse motor 2 as described above. At the same time, joggling control arm 42 of detecting mechanism 5 is rotated to engage contact M However, in this state, since contacts RY,,, are in the open state, relays RY, and RY,, are not actuated. After such engagement, arm 42 is stopped, but arm 41 continues to traverse with disc 39 until it engages contact M, to actuate relay RY,,. The actuation of relay RY,, starts counter C, couting the pulses from pickup 8. Switch holding devices K, and K are switched so that contacts F,, and F are closed when counter C, reaches a predetermined number of pulses. During this period, arm 41 permits the rotation of disc 39 while said arm remains locked in position. After switch holding devices K, and K are switched to close contacts F,, and P pulse motor 2 receives pulses directly from pulse transmitter 1, rather than through frequency converter 10 as more particularly shown in FIG. 2. This arrangement permits ring rail 3 to fall at a higher speed than the speed at which said ring rail is raised.

Referring now to FIG. 10, the building motion starts from point bb immediately after the joggling operation. Pulse motor 2 is operated to lift ring rail 3 at a slow speed, and at the same time, detecting device 5 is displaced. When ring rail 3 reaches the point bb from point bb, arm 41 comes in contact with contact M, to energize relay RY,, to close contact RY,,,. This energizes counter C, which starts counting pulses from pulse generator 1. During the counting of said pulses, ring rail 3 keeps rising, and at the same time, control arm 41 is held fixed by contact M, while disc 39 continues to rotate. When the number of pulses thus counted reaches a predetermined level, counter C, closes contacts C,, (FIG. 8). At this moment, ring rail 3 has reached point b.

The closing of contacts C,, switches holding devices K, and K to close contacts F,, and F thereof. This in turn causes pulse motor 2 to receive pulses directly from pulse transmitter l, and ring rail 3 starts falling at a higher speed than the speed at which it was raised (twice as high in the embodiment depicted). Control arm 41 is moved in the counter clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 and brought into contact with contact M During this operation, ring rail 3 falls to a point bb determined by the engagement of arm 41 with contact M Since during the raising operation, ring rail 3 is lifted both during the traverse of control arm 41 from contact M to contact M, and during the period in which counter C, is counting pulses, while ring rail 3 falls only while arm 41 is traversing from contact M, to contact M at each step, the ring rail is raised a distance greater than it falls. This difference in distance, equal to the distance between bb' and b, is referred to as the distance of chase. Disc 39 is displaced by one increment of distance of chase at each stop motion, so that, as shown in FIG. 10, the building motion is carried out. In practice, the period of time'between bb' and b is about 0.3 second.

When the bobbin on the spindle becomes fully wound by the building motion, the lowering of the ring rail is stopped. A number of arrangements are possible for this terminal action in the formation of a finished cop. In the embodiment depicted in the drawings, the continued rotation due to inertia after the operation of the machine is stopped is applied to lower the ring rail to a position a little below the winding start position, at

which position the end of the thread is wound on the lower part of the bobbin and the ring rail is relifted to a position suitable for the doffing operation and stopped there.

The operation of full cop lowering and suitable position stoppage is more particularly described in connection with FIGS. 2, 5, 9 and 10. A counter (not shown) coupled to the front roller of the spinning machine closes the contact ACF when the cop becomesfull. The closing of this contact energizes relay YF which generates an instructional signal for stopping the machine motor and for lowering ring rail 3. In effect, the ring rail continues the building operation until control arm 41 engages contact M When said contact is engaged, relay RY is energized and both'timers TM and TM, are actuated by-the closing of relay contact RY (FIG. 9). Said timers serve to close their respective selfholding contacts TM so that thereafter, said timers maintain their actuated state even if relay RY is released. After a certain definite time, timer TM operates normally closed switch TM to deenergize relay RY to stop machine operation, the machine continuing to operate due to inertia. Further, after a second predetermined time, timer TM actuates contacts TM (FIG. 9) to actuate relay RY At this moment, switch holding device K switches pulse motor 2 to the downward direction due to the closing of contacts F and said pulse motor is connected to the multi-pulse generator 9 by the closing of upper contacts RY (FIG. 2) due to the actuation of relay RY Pulse motor 2 is thus rotated at a high speed to lower ring rail 3 quickly since normally closed contacts RY are kept open due I to the energization of relay RY Even if contact M is engaged by arm 41, relay RY is not actuated and switch holding devices K, and K are not switched. Ring rail 3 is thus lowered until contact M is engaged, at

which time relay RY is energized through the closed contacts RY (FIG. 2). The'actuation of relay RY opens normally closed contacts RY to disconnect pulse motor 2 from the pulse sources. Simultaneously, contacts RY (FIG. 9) areclosed to actuate timer TM A predetermined time interval after the stoppage of machine operation and the actuation of timer TM contacts TM and TM thereof are closed and relay YF, is actuated. The actuation of relay YF opens contacts YF to deenergize timer TM and relay RY When this occurs, relay RY (FIG. 2) is energized since normally closed contacts RY are closed. This switches switch holding device K to close contacts F thereof, while the relay YF closes normally open contacts YF (FIG. 8) to energize relay RY,. This actuates pulse motor 2 for rapidly lifting ring rail 3.

As a result, ring rail '3 is brought into contact with control switch LSM (FIG. 1) positioned at a suitable position on the machine frame. The closing of switch LSM actuates relay RLM, through the closed contacts of normally open contacts YF (FIG. 9). The actuation of relay RLM open normally closed contacts RLM,, which in turn releases timer TM; and relay YF The release of relay YF, opens normally opened contact YF to deactuate relay RY, (FIG. 8). Normally closed contacts YF are opened since relay YF, (FIG. 9) is actuated by the closing of the full package counter ACF. Upon the release of relay RY the quick rising action of ring rail 3 is completed. At the same time, normally closed switch RLM, is opened to deenergized main switch relay MS, (FIG. 7), so that the oscillation of the pulse generating device is stopped and the arrangement is prepared for the next step in the operation.

The length of push rod 52, which determines displacement between contacts M and M, (FIG. 6) determines the lower-most position in the cop forming motion since said lower-most position is determined by the engagement of arm 41 and contact M After the doffing operation is completed, each counter is returned to zero for the carrying out of the next cycle on a new cop.

Pulse generating device 1 may be so arranged that different pulses are generated or a plurality of pulse generators, for low frequency, high frequency, or medium frequency may be provided for suitable combination for use in the control of the various motions of the ring rail according to the invention. For example, if two kinds of pulse generators are provided, one having high frequency and the other having low frequency, the ring rail lifting motion may be controlled by the low frequency pulse while the lowering motion of said ring rail is controlled by the high frequency pulse. This results in the time required for the rising motion being longer than the time required for the falling motion but the number of pulses required for the ring rail to move a certain specified length in the rising motion is equal to the number of pulses required for displacement of a like length in the falling motion.

On the other hand, if desired, three kinds of pulse generators having respectively, low, medium and high frequencies, may be provided. The low frequency would be used for the rising and building motion, the medium frequency for the falling motion, while the high frequency would be utilized for the quick falling motion of the joggling step, the respective pulse generators being effective to maintain a suitable operating speed for each motion.

In the arrangement according to the invention, it is not necessary to modify the structure of the machine when a different thread count is used in forming a cop and the cop can be formed into a desired shape suitable for use in the next step of the process as desired. In this manner, a complicated conventional spinning system can be greatly simplified, the quick return action at the point of switching the directionlof the vertical motion of the ring rail is readily and smoothly performed, and the stable and repetitive formation of the desired cop is possible.

Further, in the arrangement according to the invention it is unnecessary to provide additionally complicated and costly auxiliary equipment. The equipment required according to the invention can be easily operated and maintained.

The arrangement according to the invention is particularly flexible, permitting the selective adjustment of each of the steps in the cop forming process. The automatic operation of the cop forming process results in substantial operating efficiencies in the spinning system and a resultant increase in productivity. A further advantage of the arrangement according to the invention is that the breaking of the thread is readily avoided, as is any adverse influence on cop formation due to un even operating speed.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for lifting a ring rail for spinning machinery, comprising means for generating pulses at a rate related to the speed at which thread is supplied to said ring rail; pulse motor means operatively coupled to said pulse generating means for operational response to the pulses generated by said pulse generating means; transmitting means operatively coupling said pulse motor and ring rail for the vertical displacement of said ring rail; and feedback means including detecting means directly coupled to said ring rail for displacement in response to the vertical displacement of said ring rail and control means mechanically coupled to said detecting means and said transmitting means and electrically coupled to said pulse motor means for the reversal of said pulse motor means and of the direction of vertical displacement of said ring rail at least in part in response to a predetermined traverse length of said ring rail.

2. An apparatus for lifting a ring rail as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmitting means includes fluid actuated drive means operatively coupled to said ring rail for the displacement thereof and servo valve means operatively coupled to said fluid drive means for the control thereof, said servo valve means having a displaceable valve member mechanically coupled to said control means and said pulse motor means for the positioning thereof to regulate the direction of traverse of said ring rail.

3. An apparatus for lifting a ring rail as recited in claim 2, including coupling means intermediate said valve member and said control means, said coupling means including a socket member formed with a threaded bore and mounted for rotational displacement about the axis of said bore but restrained from axial displacement and a threaded shaft member received within said threaded bore and coupled to said valve member, said control means including means for rotating said socket member in response to the displacement of said detecting means, said transmission means including means rotatably coupling said pulse motor and said threaded shaft for the rotation thereof, said valve member being displaced to control the direction of traverse of said ring rail in response to the axial displacement of said threaded shaft in response to relative rotational displacement of said threaded shaft and socket member.

4. An apparatus for lifting a ring rail as recited in claim 1, wherein said control means includes a shaft operatively coupled to said detecting means for rotation thereby; a first contact arm; means coupling said first contact arm to said shaft for the rotation of said arm with said shaft while permitting the stopping of the rotation of said arm independent of the continued rotation of said shaft; and first and second fixed contacts circumferentially spaced about said shaft in the path of said first contact arm, said fixed contacts and contact arm being electrically coupled to said pulse motor so that engagement of said first contact arm and said fixed contacts at least in part controls the reversal thereof.

5. An apparatus for lifting a ring rail as recited in claim 4, wherein said control means includes means for counting a predetermined number of pulses from said pulse generating means after the rotation of said first arm is stopped by the engagement thereof with one of said fixed contact members during which time said pulse motor continues to rotate in the same direction until reversed upon the counting of said predetermined number of said pulses so that the reversal of the direction of traverse of said ring rail from at least one direction of said traverse is in response to the composite of the traverse of said ring rail a predetermined length in said direction represented by the circumferential spacing between said fixed contacts and a predetermined period of time represented by said predetermined member of pulses.

6. An apparatus for displacing a ring rail as recited in claim 4, including a second contact arm; means coupling said second contact arm to said shaft for the rotation thereof in response to the rotation of said shaft while permitting the continued rotation of said shaft upon the stopping of said second contact arm; and fixed contact means in the path of said second arm for at least in part controlling the joggling cycle of the displacement of said ring rail.

7. An apparatus for displacing a ring rail as recited in claim 1, wherein said pulse generating means is adapted to produce pulses of a low frequency, a medium frequency and a high frequency, said control means being adapted to apply said low frequency pulses to said pulse motor means to effect the rising building motion of said ring rail; to apply said medium frequency pulses to said pulse motor means to effect the falling building motion of said ring rail; and to apply said high frequency pulses to said pulse motor means to effect the joggling winding and the quick falling of the ring rail in the full cop operation.

8. An apparatus for lifting a ring rail as recited in claim 1, wherein said detecting means is rigidly coupled to said ring rail, said control means being operative at least in part in response to said detecting means. 

1. An apparatus for lifting a ring rail for spinning machinery, comprising means for generating pulses at a rate related to the speed at which thread is supplied to said ring rail; pulse motor means operatively coupled to said pulse generating means for operational response to the pulses generated by said pulse generating means; transmitting means operatively coupling said pulse motor and ring rail for the vertical displacement of said ring rail; and feedback means including detecting means directly coupled to said ring rail for displacement in response to the vertical displacement of said ring rail and control means mechanically coupled to said detecting means and said transmitting means and electrically coupled to said pulse motor means for the reversal of said pulse motor means and of the direction of vertical displacement of said ring rail at least in part in response to a predetermined traverse length of said ring rail.
 2. An apparatus for lifting a ring rail as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmitting means iNcludes fluid actuated drive means operatively coupled to said ring rail for the displacement thereof and servo valve means operatively coupled to said fluid drive means for the control thereof, said servo valve means having a displaceable valve member mechanically coupled to said control means and said pulse motor means for the positioning thereof to regulate the direction of traverse of said ring rail.
 3. An apparatus for lifting a ring rail as recited in claim 2, including coupling means intermediate said valve member and said control means, said coupling means including a socket member formed with a threaded bore and mounted for rotational displacement about the axis of said bore but restrained from axial displacement and a threaded shaft member received within said threaded bore and coupled to said valve member, said control means including means for rotating said socket member in response to the displacement of said detecting means, said transmission means including means rotatably coupling said pulse motor and said threaded shaft for the rotation thereof, said valve member being displaced to control the direction of traverse of said ring rail in response to the axial displacement of said threaded shaft in response to relative rotational displacement of said threaded shaft and socket member.
 4. An apparatus for lifting a ring rail as recited in claim 1, wherein said control means includes a shaft operatively coupled to said detecting means for rotation thereby; a first contact arm; means coupling said first contact arm to said shaft for the rotation of said arm with said shaft while permitting the stopping of the rotation of said arm independent of the continued rotation of said shaft; and first and second fixed contacts circumferentially spaced about said shaft in the path of said first contact arm, said fixed contacts and contact arm being electrically coupled to said pulse motor so that engagement of said first contact arm and said fixed contacts at least in part controls the reversal thereof.
 5. An apparatus for lifting a ring rail as recited in claim 4, wherein said control means includes means for counting a predetermined number of pulses from said pulse generating means after the rotation of said first arm is stopped by the engagement thereof with one of said fixed contact members during which time said pulse motor continues to rotate in the same direction until reversed upon the counting of said predetermined number of said pulses so that the reversal of the direction of traverse of said ring rail from at least one direction of said traverse is in response to the composite of the traverse of said ring rail a predetermined length in said direction represented by the circumferential spacing between said fixed contacts and a predetermined period of time represented by said predetermined member of pulses.
 6. An apparatus for displacing a ring rail as recited in claim 4, including a second contact arm; means coupling said second contact arm to said shaft for the rotation thereof in response to the rotation of said shaft while permitting the continued rotation of said shaft upon the stopping of said second contact arm; and fixed contact means in the path of said second arm for at least in part controlling the joggling cycle of the displacement of said ring rail.
 7. An apparatus for displacing a ring rail as recited in claim 1, wherein said pulse generating means is adapted to produce pulses of a low frequency, a medium frequency and a high frequency, said control means being adapted to apply said low frequency pulses to said pulse motor means to effect the rising building motion of said ring rail; to apply said medium frequency pulses to said pulse motor means to effect the falling building motion of said ring rail; and to apply said high frequency pulses to said pulse motor means to effect the joggling winding and the quick falling of the ring rail in the full cop operation.
 8. An apparatus for lifting a ring rail as recited in claim 1, wherein said detecTing means is rigidly coupled to said ring rail, said control means being operative at least in part in response to said detecting means. 